Safety-stirrup.



J. A. BATSON.

' SAFETY STIRRUP.

' APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 10, 190B. 91 4,630. Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

E II

J. A; BATSON.

' SAFETY STIRRUP.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10, 1908.

Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' vwzntoz witheoou I Jos f? A S0 Q-ka w v JOSEPH A. BATSON, OF LAKEVIEW, TEXAS.

SAFE TY-STIRRUP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 9, 1909.

Application filed November 10, 1908. Serial No. 61,927.

T o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn A. BATSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lakeview, in the county of Hall, State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Stirrups; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to a safety stirrup and more particularly to the class of stirrups adapted for use on saddles.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a safety stirrup consisting of two arms hingedly connected to a cross foot piece, the upper ends of the arms detachably connected to a cross bar or member and independent locking means at opposite sides of the stirrup and pivotally connected to the said arms, so that when a rider is thrown from a saddle his foot will engage the locking members at either side of the stirrup to auto matically release the arms whereby the foot will be freed from the stirrup.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings which disclose the preferred form of embodiment of the invention. However, it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be made such as come properly within the scope of the claims hereunto appended without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a front elevation of the stirrup. Fig. 2 is an end View thereof. Fig. 3 is a similar view partly in section. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View through the stirrup. Fig. 5 is a front view of the stirrup with one side section or arm in an open position.

Similarreference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

In the drawings :the numeral 7 designates generally the stirrup comprising a foot plate 8 having connected at opposite ends by hinges 9 upright side sections or arms 10, the latter containing near their upper extremities transverse openin s 11 adapted to reoeive the reduced spindle extremities 12 of a cross bar 13, the-latter formed with a longitudinal bore 14 in which is mounted an expansion spring 15, the opposite ends of which are adapted to play against the innenfaces of the side sections or arms 10 to automatically spread the same apart to release them from connection with the spindle extremities 12 of the cross bar of the stirrup. To this cross bar is connected the end of a stirrup strap not shown for mounting the stirrup on a saddle.

The side sections or arms 10 are recessed in the front faces thereof to accommodate latch members 16 having locking jaws 17 to normally engage notches 18 formed transversely in the spindle extremities 12 of the cross bar. The said latch members 16 are connected to the side sections, or arms 10 by pivots 19 and which members have depending outwardly curved extensions 20, the lower ends thereof ada ited to protrude a distance beyond the si e sections or arms 10 at the front of the stirrup.

Formed on the extensions 20 are inwardly directed lugs 21 forming centering pins or extensions for coiled expansion springs 22 interposed between the said extensions 20 and the side sections or arms 10 to normally maintain the said extensions protruding a distance from the side sections or arms and also to maintain the locking jaws 17 in engagement with the notches 18 in the spindle extremities of the cross bar to hold the side sections locked to the latter. To maintain the expansion spring 15 within the bore 1 1 there is )rovided apin fastener 23 which latter will revent the spring from accidentally fal ing out of the said bore in the cross bar.

N ow presuming that a riders foot is positioned within the stirrup 7 and should said rider be thrown from the horse his foot will turn in the stirrup, whereas the toe portion of the foot will be moved in a position to contact with either of the extensions 20, shifting the latter inwardly against the action of the springs 22 whereupon the locking jaws 17 will disengage from the notches 18 and the expansion spring 15 will act upon the side sections or arms 10 to disengage the same from connection with the spindle extremities 12 of the cross bar 13, thereby opening the stirrup to free the foot of the rider from the same.

What is claimed is:-

1. A stirrup of the class described comprising a foot plate, side sections hinged to the latter and containing openings near their upper ends, a cross bar having reduced spindle extremities adapted to lit Within the said openings, and latch. members carried by the side sections and adapted to protrude a distance forwardly of the same to normally look the side sections to the cross bar.

2. A stirrup of the class described coniprisin a foot plate, side sections hinged to said plate, said sections containing openings near their upper ends, a cross bar having spindle extremities engaging the said openings an expansion spring acting upon said side sections for spreading the same apart,

latch members pivotally connected to the side sections and having extensions normally projecting a distance from and forwardly of said side section, springs interposed between the side sections and said extensions to nor mally hold the latter in their projecting position, and locking jaws formed on the latch menibers to engage the spindle extremities to hold the side sections connected thereto. In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of tWo Witnesses.

JOSEPH A. BATSON. Witnesses D. D. WooDALL, J. E. MONTGOMERY. 

